Notifications & Messages

Hey - It’s time to join the thousands of other dealer professionals on DrivingSales. Create an account so you can get full access to the articles, discussions and people that are shaping the future of the automotive industry.

David Kain Subject: My letter to the President - from a Chrysler dealer in Brandenburg KY

To: The President of the United States of America

May 16th, 2009

From: Larry Green (Concerned Citizen)

Mr. President,

I am writing you today as it is my right to share my opinion and thoughts with you, the leader of our country. The developments in the past weeks have been quite puzzling to me. Seeing you announce on public television that Chrysler LLC would file for bankruptcy is something I never thought I would ever see our president do. To further complicate all that has been happening with the automotive industry I was in total shock to see who you had appointed to oversee the restructuring process and the lack of experience they have with automotive retail sales and manufacturing.

If you want to learn how to raise livestock then the obvious place to start is seeking knowledge from a farmer. So why is there such a lack of experience in your appointee’s when it comes to automotive manufacturing and sales. I believe that when decisions of this magnitude are made that will have such an impact on the everyday American, we need people with proven track records advising you. Some places to find these successful people might be, The National Automobile Dealers Association, National Dealer Councils, previous CEO’s in the automotive industry, and the list goes on and on.

Now, Mr. President, I know you will probably never see this letter as your staff will intervene. But I am taking you for your word during your campaign, where you said on several occasions that you will represent we, the people! But I feel I need to send this to you with the little hope that you may indeed receive my letter.

I live in a small rural community in Brandenburg Kentucky. We received a notice letter from Chrysler yesterday stating that we are not part of their future plans. My concern is not about me, but rather the impact that the local community as well as hundreds of others across the country will feel from this outrageous, government sanctioned, protection of large corporations and unions at the expense of everyday people who elect government leaders. These leaders are elected because of their platform, ideals, abilities and concern for the American people in general. In the case of the automobile restructuring the average American has definitely taken a back seat.

What I want you to know Mr. President, is that in most cases the local automobile dealers are the community backbone in rural areas. I will share with you just a few things that we do here in Brandenburg; We provide numerous scholarships to graduating seniors every year. We are one of the largest employers in the community. We support numerous sport’s activities from little league all the way through high school. We are the number one contributor to the local Future Farmers of America. We have sent over 2000 large packages to our deployed soldiers in war zones. We assist the local Army Recruiting Command with a tutoring program that has enabled several young men and woman to enter into the military. We donate to the senior citizens in the community to give them a better quality of life. We provide assistance to local law enforcement and emergency service providers on a regular basis. We donate time, resources and money to numerous non profit organizations such as, American Red Cross, Relay for Life, American Cancer Society, Veterans Organizations, USA Cares, Association of the United States Army, Breast Cancer Awareness, Boy Scouts of America, Food Closets, Shelters, Parks and Recreation, Angle Tree, food and shelter for less fortunate people, and this list goes on and on, Mr. President.

We are also a major contributor in political contributions and are involved heavily with the democratic party. We are not unlike the typical rural dealer as I am sure you have not been briefed on what a typical dealer adds to a typical community. Mr. President, please do not allow these drastic cuts to occur until you know how they will impact on local communities.

In our dealership we have been profitable and have never, ever been a liability to Chrysler LLC. The areas they said they were going to measure, we exceeded in every category. So the question remains, why? We feel that all they did was cut numbers as they were told to do by your people. They quite simply looked at a map and tried to space their dealers 50 miles apart. The funny thing is Chrysler/Fiat thinks customers will drive the additional distance to buy their products. I hate to tell you that this is not factual at all. Most rural dealers have loyal customers to their dealership and not the brand. In fact, we have been covered up by phone calls each and every minute since the news was published because our customers want to trade in their Chrysler products and buy Ford or Mercury. Why, because we are also a Ford-Mercury dealer and our customer base is loyal to us not the brand. That is why you need to have representation of dealers also involved in this restructuring process.

Your appointee’s are under the impression that rural dealers are a liability to Chrysler LLC. This is totally false, Mr. President and we are an example of that. We have always paid for everything that is sent to us, tools, brochures, supplies, training etc. We own our facility, we pay our employee’s, own our computer equipment and all other materials. In fact if you want the truth, we are an asset to Chrysler LLC and have made them millions of dollars in the 26 years we have been a Chrysler Dealer. I feel that our constitutional rights have been violated. Under section 8 (Powers of Congress) paragraph 4, states “to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States”. Mr. President, there is nothing uniform in how these proceedings are being carried out.

Under Amendment 5 (Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.) last paragraph, “nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without compensation.” Cleaning out a dealerships CMA account of money that the dealer put in there (not Chrysler), is no way close to being anything short of a felony offense by Chrysler LLC, who did this just hours prior to filing for Bankruptcy. To this day we have received no compensation whatsoever. Mr. President, this is the company that our tax payers money bailed out for a short period of time. Wow what a payback.

Amendment 7 (Trial by Jury in Civil Cases Ratified 12/15/1791.) “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and in no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of common law.” It’s obvious that common law is in no way part of the present conduct of our legal process with this case.

Amendment 8 (Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Ratified 12/15/1791.) “ Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines be imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted”. How much crueler can the system be than they have been to average American people who happen to own profitable dealerships?

Amendment 11 (Judicial Limits. Ratified 2/7/1795) “The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.” Mr. President, we are well aware of who is calling the shots in how this process is unfolding and that is by Fiat, a Foreign company. It seems that our countries laws and processes are being interpreted to take care of non US Citizens rather than very productive members of our society who are US Citizens, the car dealers.

I will close this letter by asking you, respectfully, to consider those little league kids who might not be able to play ball next year. The senior citizens around our country who may not have electric or hot meals next winter. Those children in low income households who may not have Christmas next year. The Boy Scout who might miss out on going to summer camp. The lives that may have been saved through the Red Cross, Cancer Society and Breast Awareness. The Veterans programs that might be affected. And so much more! I don’t know about you, but this really bothers me. I urge you, Mr. President to please do the right thing and take care of our own!